Folding wicker chair.



J. A. FENTON. FOLDING WICKER CHAIR.

. APIPLICATI'ON mu JULY 19.1915. 1,240, 692.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

INVENTOR. F627 2'0 7TTORNEYSZ frame construction.

citizen of the United filates, Ojakland, in the county of Alameda and rns arnr eerie JOHN A. BENTON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

To all whom c't'mag concern:

Be it knownv that I, J OI-IN A. FENTON, a

residing at State of California, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in- Folding Wicker Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in Wicker chairs and has as its principal object the construction of a chair of this character which can be knocked down, collapsed and folded. flat. I

Another object of my improved invention is to so construct a chair that it will be rigid when assembled, neat in design and in all respects resemble a nonacollapsible device of like character. 'In so constructing a chair of this character a number of advantages are secured such as the ability to ship in a compact form, thereby securing lower freight rates. It is also-often desirable to have a number of comfortable, 00d appearing chairsthat may be collapsed and stored in a smaller space than the chairs of or dinary construction. there are no chairs available for this purpose except folding chairs of very cheap and inferior construction and artisticqualities.

. The chair is also so designed that it may be knocked down for shipping purposes and when sold the parts may be permanently attached. The construction of the chair makes a device manufacture the chair of ratan, willow,

cane or fiber of any 'kind over a wood or,

metal frame.

Vith the above and other objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference being had to the accompanying r rawing forming a part of-this specification: Flgure 1 1s a view in perspective showing the general construction of my improved chair. I

Fig. 2 is a'view in section showing more particularly the manner in which the seat is attached to the frame and details of the Fig. 3 is a viewin rear elevation showing the back of the chair separated from the At the present time rigid and it is possible to,

FQLDING WICKER CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented ggpfi .1 8'; 1917, Application filed July 15, 1915. Serial No. 40,578. I

base to illustrate the manner in which it is knocked down.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the base portion of the chair. F 1g. 5 1s an'enlarged View In section through the'bottom of the back rest show lng the manner in which the seat is-hinged thereto and the manner in which the weight.

of the seat is-supp'orted independent of the method. of attaching the seat-to the frame. 1 Referring to correspondingparts in' the several views by the same numerals of referonce, 1 denotes the base portion of myimproved chair, consisting of the sides 2 and front portion 3, the latter being constructed of the horizontal pieces 4 and 5, connected by the vertical members 6, forming in this manner a rectangular frame which is hinges and also illustrating an alternate wrapped and covered by ratan, cane or equivalent material.

The ends of the horizontal members 4: and

5 extend beyond the vertical members 6 and are notched to fit the circular front legs/7,

'and the binding material is so disposed that certain strong, heavy strands as shown at 8 pass around these legs thereby revolubly securing the sides and front to each other.

The vertical supports of the back and rear legs are formed of two parallel strips 9 and 10. The strip 9 being divided adjacent the 01) portion as shown at 11 and the strip 10 eing I shown at 12. The portions of these strips between the points 10 and 12 are separately covered with-the widlier material While those *portions above and below these points are bound together as shown at 13. To the opposite members 10 are attached the 'horizontal connecting members '14, 15 and 16, these members being secured, bound and braced in the usual mannerl The portions divided adjacent the lowerend as of strips 9 below the point 11 are secured to. the rear end of side arm ferred manner. 7 I

- The upper portions of members 9' are provided. with pins 17, Ont-heir lowerends Which fit sockets 18 in upper ends of the lower portion 2 in any prepins 19, adapted toxenter the sockets 20 in the upper ends of the lower portion of these of these members. The

. lower ends of'the upper portions of members 10 are in like. manner providedwithsimilar strips. Thus when the pins 17 and 19 are entered into their respective sockets the back portion, denoted in general by 21, is firmly secured on the rear ends of the side mem here 2.

The seat 22 is formed over a substantially rectangular form and is preferably hinged to the cross bar 14 on the back by means of wire loop 23, passing around the rear bar 24 on the seat frame and through the member 10 where it is fastened on the back thereof. The member 24: is substantially circular in form thus allowing the seat to be rotated in these loops and in order that the entire weight which is carried by the seat may not be supported on the loops 1 provide rests 25 to carry the weight of the rear portion of the seat. These rests consist of substantially triangularly shaped blocks which are fastened and bound on the front of members 10, and having the base portions so disposed that when the seat is in its normal position the rear portion thereof rests on these bases, which thereby carry the weight resting on the seat. These wire loops may be dispensed withby providing a pin and socket'connection between the triangular blocks and the seat thus making the seat entirely separate from the back. The front cross bar of the seat is provided with a socket which fits over a pin 26 on the upper surface of the cross bar 4, thus securing the seat inplace and bracing the frame against diagonal strains.

Asthe backof the chair2l forms an angle with the rear leg portions, 1 form a truss between these portions by securing the cord members 27 between the upper and lower ends of members 10 and placing short struts 1 28 between this cord and apex of the angle between. the back and the legs, in this manner the back is securely and rigidly braced to prevent warping or sagging out of shape. The manner in which the chair is folded is as follows:-

is then folded by rotating one of the side intense members 2 to the back of the front 3, and the other side member to the front of this member 3. The folded base portion may then be stacked within the angular portion of the back of the chair thus forming a compact'package of the size of the back ortion and only a few inches in depth. '11 this, manner a ,large number of pieces may be crated or otherwise prepared for shipment What I claim as new and wish to cover by 7 Letters Patent is:-- 1

l. A folding wicker chair comprising sides, front, back and seat covered 'with wicker, said back and seat 'bein removably attached to said front and si es and said sides being foldable on said front portion.

2. A folding wicker chair comprising a base portion, consisting of sides and a front,

said sides being foldable on said front, a seat,

a back, said seat and back being removably attached to said base portion.

3. A folding wicker chair comprising a' I front, sides revolubly mounted on said front, a seat, aback, said seat being iyotally secure tosaid back and said bac sockets in said sides, thereby securing said back portion to said sides.

4. A folding chair comprising upright" rear supports, each of said supports censistlng of an inner member and an outer portion having pins adapted to extend into member, eachof said members comprising a short section and a long section, means securing said short sections to the adjacent long sections, a pin and socket joint connecting the abutting end of said sections, a back secured to the long section of the inner of said members a seat pivotally secured to said back, side members attached to the long section of said outer members and a front.

member pivotally secured to said sides.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN A. FENTON. 

